How Do You Write an Acting CV With No Professional Experience?

Landing your first professional acting role hinges on a well-crafted CV that effectively markets your potential, not just your paid experience. The key is to strategically frame your non-professional experience, training, and unique skills to demonstrate passion and readiness to casting directors. Even without a professional credit, your CV can be a powerful tool if you know what to include and how to present it.

What Should You Include in an Acting CV With No Experience?

When you lack professional acting credits, your goal is to build a compelling narrative of your commitment and capabilities. Casting directors look for potential, trainability, and specific attributes that might fit a role. Your CV must answer these unspoken questions by highlighting alternative forms of experience.

Focus on these core sections:

• Non-Professional Acting Experience: This includes community theatre, university or school productions, student films, short films, and workshop performances. This experience is crucial as it shows practical application of your skills and a genuine passion for the craft.
• Training and Education: Detail any acting classes, workshops, degrees, or private coaching. Listing your training signals to casting directors that you are serious about developing your craft and understand industry fundamentals.
• Special Skills: This is a critical section for new actors. List any abilities that could be relevant to a role, such as accents, sports, musical instruments, dance styles, or stage combat. Be specific and truthful about your proficiency level.
• Physical Characteristics: Unlike most professions, physical appearance is a casting factor. Include your height, build, hair and eye color, vocal characteristics (e.g., "Resonant baritone"), and the age range you can convincingly play.

How Do You Structure Your First Acting CV Step-by-Step?

Creating a clear, one-page document is essential. Follow this structured approach to ensure you include all necessary information in a professional format.

1. Contact Information: Start with your name in a larger, bold font at the top. Include your phone number, professional email address, and city/location. If you have a link to an online showreel or professional website, add it here.

2. Personal Profile: Write a brief, 2-3 sentence summary that encapsulates your acting aspirations, key training, and what you bring to the table. For example: "A dedicated and versatile recent graduate from the [Name of Drama School], eager to apply extensive stage training and a strong skill set in accents and movement to a professional acting role."

3. Physical Details: Present this information clearly, often in a list format. For example:

   • Height: 5' 7"
   • Hair: Brown
   • Eyes: Blue
   • Playing Age: 18-25
   • Vocal Range: Soprano, RP Accent

4. Acting Experience: List your roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first). For each entry, include the production title, your character's name, the production company/theatre, and the director's name. Even if it was a non-professional production, present it professionally.

5. Education & Training: List your relevant qualifications, starting with the most recent. Include the institution name, dates attended, and the qualification or course title.

6. Special Skills: Organize your skills into clear categories like "Accents," "Sports," or "Musical Skills." This makes it easy for a casting director to scan quickly.

What Does a Good Example and Template Look Like?

Seeing a well-formatted example can help you visualize your own CV. Below is a template and an example based on a fictional actor.

Acting CV Template:

YOUR NAME Phone: | Email: | Location: | Showreel Link:

PERSONAL PROFILE [A concise summary of your artistic identity and goals.]

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Height: Hair: Eyes: Playing Age: Distinguishing Features: (e.g., tattoos, piercings - optional)

ACTING EXPERIENCE

• Production Title (Year) - Role of [Character Name], Directed by [Director Name], [Production Company]
• Production Title (Year) - Role of [Character Name], Directed by [Director Name], [Production Company]

TRAINING & EDUCATION

• [Course Name] - [Institution], [Year]
• [Degree Name] - [University], [Years]

SPECIAL SKILLS

• Accents: [List]
• Sports: [List]
• Other: [List]

Example: Anna Stage anna.stage@email.com | +44 (0) 1234 567890 | London

PERSONAL PROFILE A enthusiastic and trained stage actor with a strong foundation in classical and contemporary theatre. Seeking to launch a professional career and contribute to dynamic productions.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS Height: 5'7" | Build: Slim | Hair: Auburn | Eyes: Green | Playing Age: 18-30 | Accent: Soft Yorkshire

ACTING EXPERIENCE

• Cinderella (2021) - Role of Buttons, Northwood Community Theatre, Dir. J. Smith
• A Streetcar Named Desire (2021) - Role of Blanche DuBois, Northwood Amateur Players, Dir. A. Jones

TRAINING & EDUCATION

• Stage Combat Workshop - Fake Fight School, London (2022)
• BA Theatre Studies & Acting - Acting College, London (2017-2020)

SPECIAL SKILLS

• Accents: Yorkshire, Scottish, American (General), Australian.
• Singing: Classically trained contralto.
• Dance: Advanced Jazz and Tap, Intermediate Ballet.
• Licences: Full UK Driving Licence.

What Are the Pro Tips for Formatting and Submitting Your CV?

The final presentation of your CV is as important as its content. Based on industry standards, follow these formatting guidelines to ensure your CV is received professionally.

• Keep it to One Page: An acting CV must be concise. A single A4 page is the standard, as it is often printed on the back of a headshot.
• Use a Clean, Professional Font: Stick to classic, easy-to-read fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman in a 11pt or 12pt size.
• Save as a PDF: Always send your CV as a PDF file titled "YourName-CV.pdf" to preserve formatting across all devices.
• Embrace White Space: Avoid cramming information. A clean layout with ample margins is more readable and looks more professional.
• Proofread Meticulously: Spelling or grammatical errors can create an unprofessional impression. Ask a friend or mentor to review it before you send it out.
• Update Regularly: Treat your CV as a living document. Add every new role, workshop, or skill as soon as you complete it.

By focusing on transferable skills, presenting information clearly, and adhering to industry format standards, your acting CV will effectively open doors to auditions and your first professional opportunities. Remember to update your CV with every new experience and tailor your personal profile for specific roles when possible.